Single electrode treater



Dec. 29, 1931. H. c. EDDY SINGLE ELELCTRODE TREATER Filed Nov. 21. 192'. Z Sheets-Sheet IM/EA/TOB: HH/BOLD 6. E00), I BXW%V'/L4 Dec. 29, 1931. H. c. EDDY 1,838,915

S INGLE ELECTRODE TREATER Filed Nov. 21. 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 IMBMTOR, HHIBOLD HTTmpMBI I Patented Dec. 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" HAROLD C. EDDY, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR ".l'O' PETROLEUM REOTIF Y- ING COMPANY 01 CALIFORNIA, 0]! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF smear: nnnc'rnona renames.

- Application filed November 21, 1927. Serial No. 234,810.

invention designed particularly for treating oil, without, however, limiting myself to anything less than the invention defined by the appended claims.

To fully explain the advantages of my invention, I shall briefly refer to the construction andoperation of well-known electrical treaters. In these treaters, the oil to be treated passed through an electric field which is provided between a pair of metal electrodes, these electrodes being connected in an electrical circuit. In certaintypes of existing apparatus, most, if not all, of the treating action takes place at one of the electrodes. The electrode where the treating 'ocours is subject to corrosive action and an msulation scale forms thereon which reduces the efliciency of the treater. It is necessary to periodically remove this electrode and perform de-scahng 0 ration.

W'th aviewo overcoming the disadvantage of the present treater, this invention eliminates a metal electrode which is subject to scaling-and in lieu thereof has a liquid electrode which is not susceptible to scaling. I am aware that attempts have been made to flow a conducting liquid along an electrode surface, but the present invention is characterized by the fact that the conducting liquid forming the electrode does not flow along any solid supporting surface which would tend to guide or support it after it leaves the nozzle, and in this sense the invention comprisesa stream of conducting liquid moving in s aced relationship with any supporting SUI ace.

1n the preferred forms of the invention,

' conducting liquid to carry sufiicient current 1 so that an electrode results, the invention need od of and means for passing the oil to be treated into adjacency with the shield electrode, and also means for passing a conducting liquid adjacent to the shield electrode, either mixed with the liquid to be treated or in an internal separate stream.

Where the oil to be treated contains considerable conducting liquid, or where it is necessary for the treatment of the oil to introduce'a stream of conducting liquid to form an electrode, it may be desirable to surround these liquids with a dielectric barrier, which will'prevent short-circuiting between the liquid electrode and the shield electrode.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus having these characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to (provide a novel method of treating a flui the use of a liquid electrode, whether or not this electrode is formed of a conducting liquid separated from the fluid to be treated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident in the follow iiig description. My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical'cross sectionthrough the form of the apparatus adapted for treating an oilor other material having sufiicient conducting liquid in suspension to form a liquid electrode. i

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section showing the form of directing means used when the oil or material to be treated does not carry 7 sufiicient conducting liquid to form a liquid electrode. a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing the form of the invention which provides for forming a dielectric barrier.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the numeral 11 represents a tank in which the treating action takes place. Connected to the lower part of the tank 11 is a precipitate outlet 12, and connected to the upper part of the tank 11 is an oil outlet 13.

Supported inside the tank 11 is a plurality of insulators 15, which have members 16 depending therefrom for supporting a frame 17. The frame. 17, shown best in Fig. 2, has a plurality of arms 18 at the outer ends of which are bands 19. Each band 19 supports a shield electrode 20. As shown best in Fig. 3, the shield electrode 20 is in the form of a sleeve, which is of increased diameter near the outlet and inlet ends thereof and which provides an unobstructed passage therethrough.

Carried by the tank 11, adjacent to and in axial alignment with each sleeve electrode 20, is a supply means in the form of a nozzle 22. Connected to each nozzle 22 is a pipe 23,

which supplies liquid to be treated, each pipe 22 having a valve 24. Each nozzle 22, as illustrated best in Fig. 3, is positioned so as to direct a smooth-flowing stream, as indicated by dotted lines 25, through the sleeve electrode 20 along the axis thereof.

A transformer 27, which forms a part of the apparatus,'has a secondary 28, one side of which is connected by a conductor 30 to thetank 11, and the other side of which is connected to the frame 17 by a conductor 31 which passes to the interior of the tank 11 through insulation bushing 32. When the transformer is energized, the sleeve electrode 20 forms a live electrode, the nozzle 22 forming a part of the grounded electrode, the other part of the grounded electrode being formed by the conducting liquid carried in the fluid to be treated.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially as follows:

The tank 11 is first filled with a dielectric material which, when the treater is being used for treating oil, is a dry oil. The transformer is then energized and the valves 24 are opened so that the nozzles 22 direct streams of fluid through the sleeve electrodes 20.

Referring to Fig. 3, the oil to be treated is delivered through this sleeve electrode as indicated by dotted lines 25. The conducting liquid in the oil to be treated is electrically joined to the nozzle 22, and will therefore serve as a grounded electrode. An electric field is therefore established inside the sleeve electrode 20 between this sleeve electrode and the conducting liquid of the oil to be treated. The injector action of the incoming oil causes the dielectric barrier of the tank 11 to flow into the inlet end of the sleeve electrode 20,

as indicated by arrows 27. This dielectric barrier tends to prevent water particles or other conducting medium chaining up between the two electrodes to cause short-circuiting and also moves in confining relationship with the liquid electrode. The electric field establi'shed between the metal electrode 20 and the liquid electrode treats the oil so as to coalesce the water particles. The treated oil passes from the inner end of the slee\'e electrode 20, whereafter the water particles and other foreign matter will gravitate to the bottom of the tank 11, and be Withdrawn through the precipitate outlet 12. Dry oil may be withdrawn through the pipe 13 at the top of the tank 11. The inner end of the sleeve electrode 20 is made of increasing diameter to take care of the slowing down of the velocity of the fluid stream and its tendency to spread.

In Fig. 4, is illustrated the form of the invention which provides for the supply of a stream of conducting liquid, where the liquid to be treated does not contain sufficient conducting liquid to form a satisfactory electric circuit. Referring to this view, the nozzle 22 has a central passage 30 and a surrounding passage 31. Connected to the central passage 30 is a conducting-liquid-supply pipe 32 and connected to the surrounding passage 31 is a pipe 33.

The central smooth-flowing passage 30 supplies a central stream 34 of water or other conducting liquid axially through the sleeve electrode 20. The surrounding passage 31 supplies a stream 35 of fluid to be treated, which stream 35 is annular in cross section, enveloping the stream 34. The stream 34 of conducting liquid serves as a liquid electrode and an electric field is set up between it and the sleeve electrode 20, thus treating the stream 35 of fluid to be treated. I

In Fig. 5 is still another form of the invention in which a dielectric barrier is passed through the sleeve electrode 20 around the fluid to be treated. In this figure the nozzle 22 is provided with an outer surrounding passage 36, having a dielectric barrier-supply pipe 37 connected thereto. The outer surrounding supply passage 36 passes a stream 37 of dielectric material through the sleeve electrode 20 around the fluid to be treated. This dielectric barrier formed by the stream 37 prevents water particles from short-circuiting between the liquid and sleeve electrode.

In the last two forms of the invention, the fluid to be treated does not contain sufficient conducting liquid to form a liquid electrode. It is, therefore, necessary to supply a secondary stream of conducting liquid.

The form of invention shown in Fig. 5, as a precaution against short-circuiting, provides for supplying a dielectric barrier around the fluid to be treated.

Also the stream through any shield may be varied to suit the specific fluid being treated.

One of the important features of the invention lies in the use of a liquid electrode. The liquid electrode is not subject to corrosion as is the ordinary metal electrode, and is advantageous in that respect. Other advantages of the invention are simplicity of construction and eflicient treatment of the fluid to be treated. Finally, another important feature of theinvention lies in the fact that the streams of liquid after issuing from the nozzles are mechanically unsupported in the sense that they do not flow along and in contact with the surface of any member which would tend to control the direction of. movement of these streams through their respective sleeve electrodes. This not only provides a simpler construction, but prevents the corrosion of such a member which would otherwise take place.

The invention is primarily intended for treating petroleum emulsions, that is, oil and suspended water particles. In the description and the claims, the term oil or emulsion is intended to cover any liquid containing suspensions which are undesirable, and which can be treated by an electric field so. as to separate from the fluid. The term conducting liquid should be construed to mean any liquid which has a relatively good electrical conductivity. The term dielectric barrier should be construed to mean any dielectric.

medium which is satisfactory to prevent short-circuiting between the electrodes.

I I claim as my invention: 1

1. In an electric treater, the combination of: an electrode; fluid-directing means directed adjacent said electrode and providing primary and secondary passages; means for impressing a potential difference between said electrode and said fluid-directing means; means for supplying a conductin liquid to said primary passage of said flui -directing means in a manner to form a stream of said conducting .liqui'd forming a liquid electrode spaced from said electrode and from any other solid supporting surface; and means for supplying a fluid to be treated to said secondary passage of said fluid-directing means to form a stream of said fluid which passes between said electrode and said liquid electrode.

2. In an electric treater, the combination of: an electrode; fluid-directing means directed adjacent said electrode and providing primary, secondary and tertiary passages; means for impressing a potential difference between said electrode and said fluid-directing means; means for supplying a conducting liquid to said primary passage of said fluid-directing means in a manner to form a stream of said conducting liquid forming a liquid electrode spaced from said electrode and from any other solid supporting surface; means for supplying a fluid to be treated to said secondary passageof said fluid-directing means to form a stream of said fluid which passes between said electrode and said li uid electrode; and means for supplying a die ectric barrier to said tertiary passage of said fluid-directing means in a manner to form a stream of said dielectric barrier between said electrode and said stream of fluid to be treated.

3. In an electric treater, the combination of: a nozzle providing a central passage and a surrounding passage; means for supplying a conducting liquid tosaid central passage to form a stream of said conducting liquid forming a liquid electrode flowing in spaced relationship withany solid supporting surface; means for supplying a fluid to be treated to said surrounding passage in a manner to form a fluid envelope around said liquid electrode; an electrode surrounding said fluid electrode and its envelope of fluid to be treated; and means for impressing a potential difference between said last-named elect-rode and said nozzle.

4. In an electric treater, the combination through which said liquid electrode with itssurrounding envelopes pass; and means for impressing a potential difference between said surrounding electrode and said. nozzle.

5. A method of electrically treating an emulsion having a high percentage of conducting material therein, which includes the steps of: injecting a high velocity stream of said emulsion centrally into a sleeve-shaped electrode and in spaced relationship therewith and with any solid supporting surface, the velocity of said stream being high enough to carry said emulsion" completely through said electrode; establishing a difference in potential between the conducting material of said emulsion and said electrode,'said conducting material itself acting as an electrode; and separating said conducting material from the remainder of the treated emulsion after said treated emulsion leaves said sleeve electrode.

6. A method of treating an emulsion, which includes the steps of: moving a liquid electrode axially through a surrounding electrical conducting properties and flowing in spaced relationship with respect to any solid supporting surface; establishing an electric field between said liquid electrode and said surrounding electrode; and introducing into said field an envelope of said emulsion to be treated, said envel )pe surrounding and moving through said field in contact with said liquid electrode.

7. A method of treating an emulsion, which includes the steps of: moving a liquid electrode axially through a surrounding electrode, said liquid electrodecomprising a continuous stream of liquid having good electrical conducting properties and flowing in spaced relationship with respect to any solid supporting surface; establishing an electric field between said liquid electrode and said surrounding electrode; introducing into said field an envelope of said emulsion to be treated, said envelope surrounding and moving through said field in contact with said liquid electrode; and maintaining a fluid dielectric between said envelope of emulsion to be treated and said surrounding electrode.

8. A method of treating a petroleum emulsion by the use of a surrounding electrode, which method includes the steps of: forcing a stream of conducting liquid through said surrounding electrode, said stream of conducting li uid itself forming a liquid electrode and flowing in spaced relationship with respect to any solid supporting surface; forcing through said surrounding electrode and around said liquid electrode concentric and contacting envelo es of the emulsion to be treated and a liqui dielectric; and establishing a difference in potential between said surrounding electrode and said liquid electrode.

9. A method which includes the steps of:

- positioning a surrounding electrode open at its ends in a surrounding liquid; injecting axially into said electrode a liquid electrode comprising a high velocity stream of a conducting liquid, said stream of conducting liquid flowing in spaced relationship with respect to any solid supporting surface and drawing a portion of said surrounding liq uid into said electrode around said liquid electrode; and establishing a high potential between said electrode and said stream of conducting liquid.

10. A method of treating an emulsion, which includes the steps of: moving a liquid electrode in spaced relationship with another electrodeysaid liquid electrode comprising a continuous stream of an electrically conducting liquid flowing in spaced relationship with respect to any solid supporting surface; establishing an electric field between said liquid electrode and the other electrode;

and subjecting the fluid to be treated to the action of said electric field between said electrodes.

11. A method of treating a fluid by the use stream of a liquid having good electrical con-- ducting properties; directing said stream of liquid axially into the mouth of said electrode and toward a narrower portion of said electrode formed by said converging walls whereby said stream of liquid remains substantially intact during its movement through said electrode to form a liquid electrode flowing in spaced relationship with respect to any solid supporting surface, the injecting of said stream of liquid drawing said surrounding liquid into said sleeveshaped electrode; and establishing an electric field between said sleeve-shaped electrode and said liquid electrode.

12. In an electric treater the combination of: a sleeve electrode open at its ends and providing an unobstructed passage; a nozzle at one end of said sleeve electrode and providing a central passage for forcing a smoothflowing stream of a conducting liquid axially through said unobstructed passage of said sleeve electrode with a minimum of spreading, said stream being smaller than said sleeve electrode so as to be separated therefrom by a space and flowing therethrough in spaced relationship with any solid supporting surface; and means for establishing a potential difference between said nozzle and said sleeve electrode to set up an electric field in said space.

13. In an electric treater the combination of: a sleeve electrode open at its ends and providing an unobstructed passage; a nozzle directed axially into said passage and providing a central passage for forcing a smoothflowing stream of a conducting liquid axially through said unobstructed passage of said sleeve electrode, said stream of conducting liquid flowing through said sleeve electrode in spaced relationship with any solid supporting surface to define a liquid electrode; and means for establishing a potential difference between said nozzle and said sleeve electrode whereby an electric field is set up between said liquid electrode and said sleeve electrode: and means for supplying the emulsion to be treated to said field, said emulsion flowing through said field in the form of an envelope around said liquid electrode, said nozzle being formed to force. said stream of conducting liquid through said sleeve electrode with a minimum of mixing with said emulsion.

14. In an electric treater the combination of: a tank, containing a body of liquid; a

lurality of nozzle means directed into said quid and expelling streams of liquid in such a direction that these streariis of liquid contact each other in said tank' whereby a spreading action takes place when said streams contact each other; and means" for electrically treating each of said streams of liquid.

15. In an electric treater the'combination of: a tank; a plurality of nozzles directed i radially into said tank; means for supplying liquid to said nozzles under pressure whereby streams of liquid are forced radially inward with respect to said tank, said streams contacting each other at the central portion of said tank; and means for setting -up an electric field around each of said streams of liquid for electrically treating the liquid in said streams during the time these streams are so moving inward.

16. In an electric treater the combination of: a sleeve electrode open at its ends and providing an unobstructed passage: a nozzle means spaced outside said passage at one end 86 of said sleeve electrode and providing concentric passa es for directing concentric streams of dissimilar liquids through said sleeve electrode. said concentric streams moving axially through said unobstructed passa e: means for supplving' said liquids to I said passages. one of said liquids being a ood conductor of electricitv in a mannerto form a liquid electrode flowing in. spaced relationship with any solid supporting surface: and

' means for establisbin 1a difi'erence of potential between said nozzle means and said sleeve electrode.-

a 17. A method'of treating an emulsion bv the use of a sleeve electrode which method 40 includes the steps of: forming a high velocity stream of emulsion flowing in spaced relationship with any solid supporting surface enveloping said stream of emulsion with a stream of liquid having'a dielectric strength greater than said emulsion: moving. said streams of emulsion and liquid through said sleeve electrode; and establishing an electric field in said sleeve electrode and acting upon said emulsion as it moves through said sleeve electrode.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles. California, this 16th day of November, 1927.

I HAROLD o. EDDY. 

